Child Soldiers

What is a Child Soldier? It is estimated that there are approximately 300,000 Child Soldiers around the world. Why Children? cheaper to look after Children have a less well developed sense of danger Easier to control

What do they do? * Young children become fighters and fight other groups in the same country to try and gain power. * Children also work as messengers or cooks and run errands for fighters. This is also very dangerous work.

Why do they go? Children are frequently abducted from schools or refugee camps by armed groups, or tempted with promises of food or money. Some join to escape relentless poverty and social discrimination UNICEF believes so many children are being used as soldiers because modern guns are so light that even very small kids can carry them.

What is it like? * Child soldiers encounter the extreme violence of modern war and the risk of injury, death, malnourishment, and manipulation with drugs or alcohol. * Exposure to horrific violence, compounded by separation from family and social structures, has long-term consequences including addiction, psychological trauma and physical disability.

TASK 1 Complete the following table about what we know so far for Child Soldiers... Past – What is their background normally like? Present – What kind of activities do Child Soldiers normally do? Future – What might the future hold for them?

Quiz 1. How many Child Soldiers are there estimated to be? 300,000 1 million 100,000 600,000

2. Why are Children used for fighting? a. They are cheaper to feed b. They want to be involved in fighting c. They have nowhere else to go d. They have experience of fighting.

3. What percentage of Child Soldiers are female? b. 40% c. 20% d. 10%

4. Why are Child Soldiers often asked to harm someone from their community? a. To prove they can do it b. To make it difficult to return c. To show their commitment to the army d. To warn the community about the army

5. What is a rebel group. a. A gang of young people b 5. What is a rebel group? a. A gang of young people b. A group using violence to oppose the Government c. A group that tries to destroy communities d. A group that opposes business leaders

6. The International Convention on the Rights of a Child sets 18 as the minimum age for service as a soldier. True or False

7. In 2000, there were over 500 million light weapons in free circulation. True or False

8. A child of 10 can be trained to take apart and use a Kalachinikov 8. A child of 10 can be trained to take apart and use a Kalachinikov. True or False.

9. In 2008, there was one light weapon for every 12 inhabitants in the world, according to the UN. True or False.

10. Each month more than 1000 persons in the world are the victim of a light weapon. True or False.

11. In 2009, child soldiers can be found in 38 countries around the world. True or False.

12. Children recruited for service in war are primarily poor and orphans. True or False.

13. 10% of Child Soldiers in the world are found in Congo (Africa). True or False.

Where are there children in armed conflict?

Why do Children become Soldiers? Many children decide on their own to join armed forces, not because they want to, but because of specific reasons. A child is most likely to choose to become a soldier if they are poor, separated from their family, displaced from their homes, living in a combat zone, or have limited access to education. This makes orphans and refugees vulnerable to becoming a child soldier. Many children join because of economic or social pressure.

Most children that join these armed groups are forced into joining Most children that join these armed groups are forced into joining. They do not have a choice about whether or not to join the armed forces. These children are either abducted, press-ganged, or recruited by force and are compelled to join because they are threatened that if they do not join, they will be killed.

Some children join to avenge family members who have been killed Some children join to avenge family members who have been killed. Most, if not all of the reasons mentioned above have to deal with desperation. These children see these armed forces as their best source of survival. They believe that the armed group will offer them food, shelter and security.

Class Discuss Child Soldiers make a choice about whether they become/stay a Child Soldier.

Class Discuss If a Child Soldier has taken someone’s life, then they should be punished with a long prison sentence

Class Discuss Young people over 12 are able to make choices about what is right and wrong

There have never been any Child Soldiers in the UK Class Discuss There have never been any Child Soldiers in the UK

Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone Listen to the story of Al-haji Sawaneh

Child Soldiers in Syria Listen to the story

Child Soldiers & the Lords Resistance Army Listen to the story

What Happens Next? Those child soldiers fortunate to survive a conflict or escape face a long road of re-integration into normal community life. Many are desensitized to violence and have difficulty adapting to life without a weapon.

They often face resentment from family and friends because of acts they have been forced to commit. Rehabilitating former child soldiers and assisting them to live as productive citizens is a difficult process.

Watch the clip Teachers TV: Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone What problems to Child Soldiers face being rehabilitated?

The UNCRC Which right/s as outlined in the articles of the convention are being abused when a child becomes a soldier? Which countries have not ratified the UNCRC? Are there any connections with child soldiers?

Kony 2012 Kony 2012 was a video about Joseph Kony and Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda Research this film which was the MOST VIRAL FILM IN HISTORY (more than 100m views in less than a week) Why was it described as ‘contentious’?

What is being done to stop this? Groups like Amnesty International and the UN are working to end the use of child soldiers in wars. The UN is campaigning to tighten up laws on selling guns to stop them reaching battlefields where child soldiers are fighting. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says that "all children have the right to special protection in time of conflict and should not take a direct part in hostilities." There are lots of projects now being set up across the world to help ex-child soldiers. They give the kids an education and counselling to try and help them return to civilian life.